Victoria Wolfe (they/she)
BFA Actor Training Program
Class of 2022

Email: wolfe.vb@gmail.com
IG: @vb.wolfe
Facebook: Victoria Wolfe

What is your FAVORITE thing about your program?

I love the emphasis we have on different styles of movement (Alexander Technique, Frantic Assembly, Butoh) and the in depth voice training we get.

What would you change about your program? Why?

I would want them to find a way to make the program more accessible to all. College is expensive, and if you are an artist trying to pay for your own education, the class load/times don’t really allow you to also be working a job - especially when you are in a show at the same time.

How would you describe the overall vibe of your program? Competitive? Supportive? A bit of both? Something else?!

The theatre department as a whole can be a bit competitive, but the ATP (Actor Training Program) specifically is a very supportive space. We emphasize the importance of the ensemble, and every Friday we have a class where all 4 years of the ATP get together and collaborate.

What was the biggest surprise about your program that you didn’t anticipate as an incoming freshman?

I was very taken aback by just how supportive the environment was. After going through Unifieds, it can seem like a BFA will be just as competitive and intense, but my professors emphasized that the only person you are competing with is yourself. Everyone is on their own journey with the craft, and you are only trying to be better than you were yesterday.

What makes your program unique?

The Butoh training for sure (although I’m not sure how much longer that professor will be there). I got to learn this beautiful, haunting form of Japanese movement from a professor who was trained by the original creators of it. The movement training we get with Jerry Gardner helps us to learn just how important storytelling is when it comes to the whole body, and how you don’t need any words at all to get a narrative across..  

Real talk: How do the audition & casting processes function at your program?

There is a definite emphasis on making sure upperclassman get opportunities, especially when we had shorter seasons due to Covid. However, on the whole, the casting is relatively fair, and the casting is done with the whole season in mind - not just each director thinking about their own show. The students are thought about as a whole to see where they would fit in best and where best they could grow..

What’s it like outside of performance classes? Is it possible to participate in extracurriculars? Greek life? Double majors? Minors?

This is absolutely possible - I got a minor in Leadership Studies which I absolutely loved. You can’t participate as fully in things like Greek life, especially when you’re in a show, but the organizations are very understanding of that. It is possible to double major as well, though coming in with credits or taking summer classes may be necessary..  

Does your school help you pursue professional working opportunities during the year, over the summer, and/or post-graduation? How so?

We work with a professional theatre company that is on campus and they have an internship program for seniors. Our professors support us going out into the community and auditioning for work, you just have to be good about communicating with them about how that will affect your academics and class times. I also know I can always reach out to the professors I have post-graduation in order to get any help or recommendations in the real world..  

Are there any opportunities and/or resources that you feel are lacking in your program?

Personally, I struggled a lot mental health wise, especially during the pandemic, and I felt that I wasn’t getting the support or understanding I needed. However, with that said, I always felt I could talk to my teachers and vocalize when something was going wrong for me. They have since become much more understanding about how hard this program can be on the psyche and are trying to ensure that their students have systems in place to help them when times get tough.. 

What’s the dynamic like between students and faculty?

It is a very tight knit community and all the teachers will know you well by the time you are ready to graduate. They listen to their students and their concerns, and are actively trying to make the program better for all involved. They acknowledge that they are growing and learning right along side us, and they are here to guide us, so they apprecaite getting constructive feedback to know what they can improve upon.. 

What types of structures are in place for students to receive feedback inside and outside of the classroom? How about for students to give feedback?

Professors will give feedback either verbally in class or written and sent to us afterward about scenes and monologues we do. We often have full class discussions so we can get comments from our peers as well, but it is always done in a constructive way, never critisizing someone’s work and development. At the end of each semester you can provide feedback on the classes and professors you had, which I highly recommend doing because the teachers love to know how the experience was and how to enhance it.

What steps has your school taken/is your school currently taking to promote greater representation for minority communities and to ensure greater equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the educational environment? 

During the pandemic and the whole of 2020, our department (along with others) was called out about the lack of diversity and the misrepresentation in casting. The College of Fine Arts (CFA) has since created the JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) committee, which is made up of students and faculty from within the CFA. We have monthly colloquiums addressing different issues that we need to be made aware of within the arts. Utah has a ways to go in terms of reaching greater equity goals, but the CFA and Department of Theatre are definitely making strides in the right direction.. 

What types of resources does your school encourage/make available for students in regards to mental, physical, and emotional health? 

We have mental health resources at the Center for Student Wellness and you can receive therapy there. There is also an incredible hospital facility at our campus, so if someone is in need of more involved or immediate help, they can also go to Huntsman Mental Health Institute. We have an awesome and large student life center that is free to use, and you can sign up for semester-long classes for reduced prices. Utah is a very outdoorsy state, so there are also plenty of skiing/running/hiking clubs that you can join if you are a more nature-y person.

What were you most worried about as an incoming freshman that you TOTALLY didn’t need to be worried about?

Being the best. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I thought I would have to go in there and know that I was growing more or doing better than those around me. But that is not the type of artistic community I entered or want to even be a part of. I quickly learned that we are all unique individuals that carry our own stories, and THAT is what makes us interesting human beings to watch perform. All the technicals aspects come with time, but there is no one I can be better or worse than because they are not me. Comparing myself to others like that was like comparing apples and oranges; I love both fruits for different things at different times. It might not always be what you want or need at a particular moment, but that doesn’t diminish how great the fruit is.

How did you know that this was the right place for you?

To be honest, I still don’t know if it was the right choice for me even after graduating. Financially, it absolutely was, and I loved the training I received here - despite some of the hardships I faced. However, being a person that identifies as queer within Utah can be a struggle, and coming from any type of minority community may feel scary in this state. Being from New England, I experienced a BIG culture shock that I was not expecting. However, I found a beautifully diverse and supportive community within the Department of Theatre, so whenever Utah state became too much for me, I knew I had people who were in my corner and supporting me along the way.